12 Monks

Players assume the roles of a Cistercian community in 12th-century Portugal tasked with settling and developing a royal land grant. Through worker placement and resource management, players send monks to gather stone, wood, iron, water and fertile land, construct buildings, and organize production and trade to sustain the abbey. Actions include exploring the couto, allocating labor for prayer or work, expanding agricultural and industrial capacity, and contributing to the construction of the large monastery. Scoring rewards efficient resource use, successful development of the territory, and progress on the communal building project.

Players: 1–4 best 4
Playing time: 90–150 min
Age: 12+
Complexity: 3.5 / 5